Summer Environmental Educator

Overview
Bird Alliance of Oregon ’s Summer Educators are passionate nature enthusiasts and relationship builders excited to help us lead a summer of Sliding Scale camp. Together, we’ll lead joyful, curious and collaborative camps outside for children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Summer Educators work together in small, diverse teams of 2-5 staff per camp who bring a wide range of professional and lived experience to our work. Through nature explorations, hikes, science experiments, music and art, quiet reflection, and big belly laughs, we encourage children to bring their whole selves to camp, find their growing edge, and deepen their connection to nature and one another.

You’re someone with experience in outdoor education or teaching in an informal setting (e.g. camps, parks, museums, community centers or comparable spaces), especially in socioeconomically and racially diverse environments. You love nature, and have some knowledge of ecology or natural history, ideally in the Pacific Northwest. With the launch of sliding scale camp, we’re excited to welcome families that mirror the full diversity of our city. As a Summer Educator, you’ll also help mentor a team of young adult Assistant Educators from Bird Alliance of Oregon ’s Green Leaders program, a partnership with Hacienda Community Development Corporation. It’s essential that all educators have a strong comfort working in multiracial teams, a dedication to creating an anti-racist learning environment, and a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through their practice. Candidates with lived experience working with youth of color, immigrants, and people from working class families are highly encouraged to apply.

Camps take place at our sanctuary in NW Portland, in parks and green spaces throughout the region. Bird Alliance of Oregon has made a strong commitment to protect summer staff time – the regular schedule is designed to ensure an eight hour work day with early release on Fridays, and we work with educators if time off is needed during the summer.

Responsibilities

• Work in consistent teams of 2-5 educators to lead 10 weeks of camp with a set age group
• With support from your team, learn and teach 3, weeklong camps (repeated three times) with an additional week at the end of the season. Curriculum will be provided and you will be responsible for learning and implementing that curriculum.
• Be ready to give and receive feedback in an open and growth oriented mindset
• Lead culturally responsive camps that build an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children
• Be responsive to various emotional and physical needs of the campers with age-appropriate behavior management interventions
• Celebrate the work of communities of color, LGBTQIA practitioners, and other historically marginalized voices in science and conservation throughout our programs
• Facilitate circle times and creative expression throughout the camp week
• Participate in a culture of mentorship and collaboration that supports the growth of Green Leaders and as well as other educators
• Assist with logistics around camp transportation, food, and equipment

Skills

• 1+ years of experience leading programs with children of diverse ages and backgrounds
• 1+ years of experience in programs in informal or outdoor settings such as parks, playgrounds or forests
• 1 + years of experience facilitating positive behavior management with youth
• Demonstrated cultural competency and enthusiasm for working with diverse populations, including communities of color, immigrants, and underserved communities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of general forest ecology, Pacific Northwest natural history is ideal
• Comfort delivering programs in the field and in remote settings
• Able to work weekdays from 8AM-4PM
• Experience with music, art or other forms of creative expression desirable for some positions
• Second language abilities in addition to English (Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian) desirable
• Educators who have lived experience in a leadership program for young adults (either as participants or practitioners) are encouraged to apply!